I need a new router

[HadEnuff]

I know nothing about routers other than:

1. Apple routers are white

2. My older Apple router (8 or 9 years old) at my lake house never shows green and doesn't extend very far around the cottage.

So, I've been told I need a new one. I was also told I don't necessarily need to buy an Apple.

What would you buy. (My computers are all Macs, as well as my phones)

Thanks

[jetpack]

I'm researching wifi routers right now.. I need an upgrade. A few things I found:

- New devices support both 2.4 and 5 GHz broadcast. The 5 is faster. Old devices (like iphone 4 and earlier) don't support 5
- FCC upped the power limits on wifi boxes in 2014.. So, a newer device should be
more powerful and have longer range.
- I've seen price ranges from $20 to $400.. such a wide margin! (But you're not getting much more transmit power from higher priced devices..)

[meierlde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetpack I'm researching wifi routers right now.. I need an upgrade. A few things I found: - New devices support both 2.4 and 5 GHz broadcast. The 5 is faster. Old devices (like iphone 4 and earlier) don't support 5 - FCC upped the power limits on wifi boxes in 2014.. So, a newer device should be more powerful and have longer range. - I've seen price ranges from $20 to $400.. such a wide margin! (But you're not getting much more transmit power from higher priced devices..)

Besides wifi the differences occur in the capability of firewalls built in, add on features like USB ports to plug hard drives in etc. IMHO the important thing is what can you do to block intruders on the firewall. Also of course how much you want to play in the internet of things sandbox. (The more IOT things the greater the risk necessitating a better firewall, as a lot of IOT devices are full of big holes in security)

[bingybear]

Not much info to make a recommendation.

What kind of internet service do you have? What data speed does it support up and down load speeds.

How many devices do you use at one time?

How much data are you slinging around? Are you streaming video? If so at what definition? HD? 4K?

In general home routers are not generally intended for extending far beyond the house. This is not saying they can't extend.

Can you answer how you intend to use wifi?
I use multiple routers in my home to improve coverage and speed. However, I do not use bleeding edge devices. I have 30Mbps download speed (cable) which is far more than I need. However, I don't do high res streaming.

[JoeWras]

I like Bosch routers. I find the depth stop is easy to adjust and stays put.

... Whoops, wrong router!

At 9 years, your old router definitely has limits. I think you should have good luck with most any new, medium priced router. Definitely be 5Ghz ready, even if your devices can't do it. Your future devices will.

[braumeister]

One suggestion:

The Best Wi-Fi Router (for Most People)

[JoeWras]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braumeister One suggestion: The Best Wi-Fi Router (for Most People)

Yeah, that's the price class I'm thinking of. Good suggestion.

[meierlde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWras I like Bosch routers. I find the depth stop is easy to adjust and stays put. ... Whoops, wrong router! At 9 years, your old router definitely has limits. I think you should have good luck with most any new, medium priced router. Definitely be 5Ghz ready, even if your devices can't do it. Your future devices will.

Note if the device has a spare usb slot you can get a 5ghz usb dongle that will allow connecting via it on 5 ghz.

[HadEnuff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingybear Not much info to make a recommendation. What kind of internet service do you have? What data speed does it support up and down load speeds. How many devices do you use at one time? How much data are you slinging around? Are you streaming video? If so at what definition? HD? 4K? In general home routers are not generally intended for extending far beyond the house. This is not saying they can't extend. Can you answer how you intend to use wifi? I use multiple routers in my home to improve coverage and speed. However, I do not use bleeding edge devices. I have 30Mbps download speed (cable) which is far more than I need. However, I don't do high res streaming.

Internet service: Spectrum, cable. 60mps (is what I'm paying for, anyway)

We may use as many as 4 devices at one time, although typically, one or two.

We stream Netflix, MLB, PGA...no games

I do use Airport Express units to play music, but those units are also 8-9 years old and they cut out often enough to irritate me. I would love to update that system as well.

[euro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HadEnuff Internet service: Spectrum, cable. 60mps (is what I'm paying for, anyway) We may use as many as 4 devices at one time, although typically, one or two. We stream Netflix, MLB, PGA...no games I do use Airport Express units to play music, but those units are also 8-9 years old and they cut out often enough to irritate me. I would love to update that system as well.

I was told that Apple routers don't always play nicely with cable modems (although my DD has that setup and it seems to work fine). Most of what you can get today is "plug and play", so unless you are a cutting edge user, I'd consider price a big component of the decision.

[HadEnuff]

What is the purpose of USB ports on a router?

[Just_Steve]

I use Apple Time Machine, the coverage area is good all over my 1/3 acre lot. The router resides downstairs in the family room and works upstairs across the house to outside by the pool with no issues. But the auto backup of all of the laptops is the one thing I could not ever be without.

[euro]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HadEnuff What is the purpose of USB ports on a router?

You can plug in an external hard drive and use it to back up all users on the network in one place (see Just-Steve's comment)

[jimbee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HadEnuff What is the purpose of USB ports on a router?

In addition to Euro's and JustSteve's comments, some routers allow connecting USB printer to their USB ports and act as a print server on the network.

[Sunset]

I bought this router a few months a go and its working great.
We do have it near the tv, so we plug it into the tv instead of streaming netflix.

Otherwise it does much better than our old one for range and speed, and it was cheap at $25.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16833704039

[W2R]

I bought this one in April:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is listed as the number one best selling computer router bought through Amazon. I guess it's OK although it is more expensive than some. I have been getting bumped off now and then but I think that is not due to the router. It has plenty of range and Frank can log in to it from next door, using my password, if he wants to.

Set up was easy and almost instant. Took less than 30 seconds, IIRC.

[Ready]

A new Apple AirPort Extreme or Apple Time Capsule will probably be the most hassle free for you, but the technology is now four years old and it does not look like they plan on updating their router products any further.

Another simple solution is Google Wifi. You can start with just a single WiFi pod, and if you need additional coverage it's easy to add extra units. I have three Google Wifi pods in my home and have been very happy with them. And I don't like messing around with complicated router settings, which so far I haven't had to. They have great technical support as well if you need assistance.

[Rustic23]

I have four or five routers in my house. One came with the internet provider, one hooked to it and goes to printers, tv, game box, and out to guest house. One goes straight to Dish box. One of these is an older Lynksys (about 10 years or more) I don't really see much difference in any of them.

My internet speed is limited to 12 meg, so a gigabit router is useless to me. I don't transfer large files across the home network, and if I did I would not be in a hurry and they could transfer at night.

For me, your needs may be different, an inepensive N router is fine! Your old Apple router was most likely single band, A/B maybe G router. If this was satisfactory why spend more for something you really don't need. On the other hand if your INet provider is pumping 4k video at high bandwidth, a better router may be worth it.

The router in braumeister post looks good! Good luck!

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunset I bought this router a few months a go and its working great. We do have it near the tv, so we plug it into the tv instead of streaming netflix. Otherwise it does much better than our old one for range and speed, and it was cheap at $25. https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16833704039

Thanks, I bookmarked it for when I need a replacement. $25 is good.

My router (NETGEAR Router WGR614v10), and I've bought the same one for several family members, was cheap, and got mixed reviews. But it has always worked just fine for everyone. It's been in constant use here for 4.5 years, no issues that I recall, we get a strong signal throughout the house and outside for a ways (I should check for updated FW, though I suppose support has ended).

I guess maybe the more $$ ones make sense if you want the USB capability, and/or have a very challenging environment, though I think a cheap repeater might be a better solution for range issues?

-ERD50

[HadEnuff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meierlde Besides wifi the differences occur in the capability of firewalls built in, add on features like USB ports to plug hard drives in etc. IMHO the important thing is what can you do to block intruders on the firewall. Also of course how much you want to play in the internet of things sandbox. (The more IOT things the greater the risk necessitating a better firewall, as a lot of IOT devices are full of big holes in security)

What is IOT?

Firewalls sound like a good thing. how do I learn which models have sufficient firewall capability, and how do learn how to utilize that capability?